How level is level - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-05-2019, 10:31 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Name: Rick
Trailer: scamp 13
Wisconsin
Posts: 3
How level is level

What are the tolerances for being level for a scamp 13 to be safe for proper operation of fridge? Also could anyone comment on typical maintainance for Dometic fridge. Thanks
Nosirrahrick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 11:03 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Name: Jack L
Trailer: Sold the Bigfoot 17-Looking for a new one
Washington
Posts: 1,561
With newer refrigerators, level is not as critical as some older (20 years) units. If the trailer feels comfortably level to walk around in, you are probably good to go. I always carried a very inexpensive Harbor Freight plastic level that cost less than a dollar. I would first level the trailer side to side using blocks, then front to back using the tongue jack. Lots if time, I would not detach the trailer for several days and there would be some noticeable , but not inconvenient slope to the trailer, and the refrigerator worked well.
Jack L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 11:28 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,018
Another way to look at it: if you can sleep comfortably in it, it's level enough.
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 11:45 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
John in Michigan's Avatar
 
Name: John
Trailer: 1979 Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 2,048
Registry
Regarding level, a quick search found this:

"Thank you for contacting Dometic. The refrigerator should not be more than 3 degrees unlevel left to right, or 6 degrees unlevel front to back. We do not recommend having the unit unlevel for more than 1-2 hours as this can increase the chances of a blockage. However, we do recommend if you can, have the unit level at all times."

This was posted in 2017 in the irv2 forum by someone who owns a Dometic RML8555 fridge. They had emailed Dometic and received this response. If you want specific guidance on your fridge, email the manufacturer.
John in Michigan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 01:38 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
ZachO's Avatar
 
Name: Z
Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
Posts: 2,556
6 degrees is a LOT. Even 3 degrees is pretty drastic inside the trailer. So yeah, as long as your fridge is fairly new, you're fine if you're comfortable in it. If I'm parking for more than 15 minutes and I can't find anywhere flat, I turn off the fridge.

There's a lot of info out there on fridge maintenance. The burner assembly is what needs to be cleaned about once a year. Burner jet, burner, and very occasionally the chimney flue.
ZachO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 02:10 PM   #6
member
 
Name: J
Isle of Wight
Posts: 536
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Magee View Post
Another way to look at it: if you can sleep comfortably in it, it's level enough.
I've never been able to sleep comfortably in my fridge....
WizWid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 02:17 PM   #7
Member
 
Name: aj
Trailer: Roamer TC
Georgia
Posts: 97
If you can see the back side of the refrigerator you will see slightly slanted pipes, probably at less than 3 degrees slope. These are the issue. The liquid will get trapped in these if it is not able to run down the spiral pipes continuously. Liquid gets stuck and damage is done in the boiler part from lack of enough liquid.
As long as the pipes have a down slope you are fine.
You can see front-to-back there is more pipe than side-to-side so is the reason they give two different angles which you can be leaning.

I was surprised they said it could be out of level for so long. I always figures 10 mins would start the damage process. Is good to know if it is true.

While you are driving the liquid gets sloshed around so much that level is not a factor.

The refrigerator should not be more than 3 degrees unlevel left to right, or 6 degrees unlevel front to back.
I think this is the refrigerator, not the trailer, dont get this confused. The two are 90 degrees rotation off each other if fridge is on a side wall. Trailer 3 degrees front to back, 6 side to side.
Roamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 03:42 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
ZachO's Avatar
 
Name: Z
Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
Posts: 2,556
Quote:
Originally Posted by widgetwizard View Post
I've never been able to sleep comfortably in my fridge....
You must be seriously pampered Mine suits me just fine.
ZachO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 08:10 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Name: Fredrick
Trailer: Escape 21C
Tennessee
Posts: 322
Wink Casita

We keep plenty of 10" long 2x6 wood blocks for the purpose..keep that bubble "betewwen the lines" and no problemo..a bit head up for sleeping, but still w/in the bubbles.
Fred762 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2019, 09:37 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
floyd's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,519
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZachO View Post
You must be seriously pampered Mine suits me just fine.
What bwand is you fwidge?...A Westinghouse??
floyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2019, 07:43 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
ZachO's Avatar
 
Name: Z
Trailer: Sasquatch
Montana
Posts: 2,556
I joined the circus when I was young and trained as a contortionist...
ZachO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2019, 09:57 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
WaltP's Avatar
 
Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
Posts: 2,254
Thanks aj. That seemed wrong to me as well.
Walt
__________________
Past owner of 1995 13' Casita, 1994 16' Casita, 2012 Parkliner, 2002 17' Bigfoot.
WaltP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2019, 12:33 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Maneelu's Avatar
 
Name: Connie
Trailer: Scamp
Michigan
Posts: 28
LOL......that was funny widgetwizard. Glad to see people's humor. ��
Maneelu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:09 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 150
fridge level

We use a simple 9" level to check whatever we can control (mostly front to back slope) in our 2009 13 ft Scamp. Never had a problem with the fridge. Years ago, had fridge in a van that NEVER seemed to work, and I suspect it was far more sensitive re: level than my 2009 Dometic is. (and of course I was much less informed....)
Richard Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 10:17 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Civilguy's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: Escape 21 & Jeep GC 5.7 (Previous 2012 Casita FD17 & 2010 Audi Q5)
Puget Sound, WA
Posts: 1,775
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nosirrahrick View Post
Also could anyone comment on typical maintainance for Dometic fridge. Thanks
I don't know that there is a lot of maintenance involved. Mostly we see people having issues with maintaining adequately cold temperatures, particularly with side-vented applications.

Here's a link to brief article with a couple of thoughts regarding operation and maintenance.

5 Tips For RV Refrigerator Maintenance
__________________
~ “It’s absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” Oscar Wilde ~
~ “What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact.” Warren Buffett ~

Civilguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2019, 12:23 PM   #16
Member
 
Name: Bush
Trailer: Vagabond
Nevada
Posts: 32
I've always found it too cold to sleep in my refrigerator, my wife has hot flashes so she prefers it.
BushWacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2019, 11:38 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Name: Keith
Trailer: 1976 Prowler
British Columbia
Posts: 5
Mine works quite well being out a 1/4 inch at 2 feet. Much more than that not so good. Hope that helps.......
Caribooredneck is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Level Commander II 1985 bigfoot tank level indicator evenweight Electrical | Charging, Systems, Solar and Generators 0 04-14-2017 09:27 PM
How level is level? Cam A Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 29 05-27-2014 06:58 PM
How level is level? DaveK Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 8 06-06-2007 11:03 AM
new level and power gauges Joe MacDonald Modifications, Alterations and Updates 8 12-12-2005 06:37 AM
Water Level Steve L. Modifications, Alterations and Updates 2 11-15-2005 08:48 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.